Bagging or huffing has reared its ugly head again. According to the latest statistics, most parents are in the dark regarding the popularity and dangers of inhalant use. However, children are quickly discovering that common household products are inexpensive to obtain, easy to hide and the easiest way to get high. According to national surveys, inhaling dangerous products is a widespread problem in the country. It is as popular as marijuana with young people. More than a million people used inhalants to get high just last year. By the time a student reaches the eighth grade, the national statistics say one in five eighth graders will have used inhalants.
If you think only kids use inhalants in the grungiest neighborhoods of an inner city, think again. Just this week three Santa Clarita Valley youth, found themselves in a hospital emergency room, the aftermath of their huffing. The ACTION Parent & Teen Support Program 1-800-FOR-TEENs crisis line has been besieged with calls for the past several months from parents asking about huffing “what it is, why are kids doing it, and how do you stop it?”
Inhalant use is like playing Russian Roulette. One huffing episode may result in some nausea while a second episode may be deadly. It’s important, as a parent, that you are informed about inhalants so you can talk to your teen about the dangers.
Common household products, like dust off (computer cleaners), hair spray, spray paint, glue, permanent markers, nail polish remover, the propellant in canned whipped cream, felt-tip markers, spray deodorants, air freshener spray, gasoline, butane lighters and others… can all be used to get a quick high.
How are these ordinary products used to get high? If the vapors from these products are sniffed directly from the can, bottle or container, it is called “inhaling.” If the vapors from these products are sprayed into a bag, empty pop can or container and then breathed in, this is called “bagging.” Lastly, the vapors can be sprayed or poured onto a cloth or piece of clothing (say, a sock) and inhaled deeply or put into the mouth, a practice called “huffing.”
Why do kids use inhalants? For many reasons. They’re cheap, you can find them in your home or buy them at any local grocery, hardware or variety store, they are easy to hide, you don’t need a “dealer,” you don’t need any extra equipment to use them (so-called drug paraphernalia) and parents are generally unaware of the problem. Because these products are so ordinary and legal, kids can often “explain” why they have them if they are caught.
What kind of high are kids getting? It’s usually short-lived. At first, inhalants have a stimulating effect. Then, if the user keeps inhaling, they may feel dizzy, giddy, light-headed or have trouble walking. Sometimes users may feel agitated and become violent. Repeated inhaling can cause a child to pass out, and, sadly, because they rob the body of oxygen, some children die suddenly.
The chemicals kids consume in inhaling are highly toxic or poisonous. These chemicals enter the lungs and then pass from the bloodstream into the brain, where they kill brain cells causing permanent brain damage. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the fumes a teen inhales are much greater than what is considered safe even in a workplace setting. Over time, inhalant use can cause other serious health problems, such as muscle spasms and permanent damage to the nervous system, liver, kidney and bone marrow. Once again, sudden death can occur, even from first-time use, due to suffocation or a high concentration of fumes.
How does the body get rid of inhalants? By exhaling (so smelling chemicals on your child’s breath may be a sign of inhalant use) and through urine. What are other signs of inhalant use?
• Again, breath and clothing that smells like chemicals.
• Spots or sores on the mouth.
• Paint or stains on your child’s body or clothing.
• A drunk, dazed or glassy-eyed look.
• Nausea, loss of appetite.
• Anxiety, excitability, irritability.
• Red or runny eyes or nose.
Inhalant use is a very difficult form of substance abuse to treat. They are both physically and psychologically addicting. It may take a month or longer to get the toxins out of your body and users do suffer withdrawal symptoms. Treatment is usually long-term, and there is a high rate of relapse. For these reasons, it is important to recognize and treat inhalant use early on, before it becomes a habit.
So, what can parents do to prevent inhalant abuse? Know the warning signs and be able to recognize the possibility of inhalant abuse. Talk to your kids about the dangers of inhalant use. Start early, when they are eight or nine, because most users are 12 to 14 years of age.
Parents are the greatest influence in their teen’s decision to use drugs or alcohol. If you are finding it difficult to initiate conversations with your teen, then attend a parenting class (the City of Santa Clarita has several excellent classes on parent/teen communication) or a parenting support group (the ACTION Parent & Teen Support Group meets every Tuesday evening at Canyon High School). The point is, that each of us as parents, need to get in between our kids and drugs any way we can.
Cary Quashen is a certified addiction specialist and the founder and president of ACTION Parent & Teen Support Programs and ACTION Family Counseling Centers, which offer drug and alcohol treatment programs for teens and adults.
Quashen may be reached at 661-713-3006 for more information. The ACTION Hotline number is 1-800-FOR TEENs. The ACTION Parent & Teen Support Program meets at Canyon High School on Tuesday evenings beginning at 7 p.m. in the A building.